Netsheipas- SLS as a perfect match for complex engineering performance components


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Netsheipas- SLS as a perfect match for complex engineering performance components

Customer: Paulius Gibavicius, CEO, Netsheipas AM
Country: Lithuania
Industry: 3D Print Service Provider
Application: End-Use Part, Prototyping
Uses: Pre-Production Prototype, Brackets, Mounts, Structures
Top reasons: Reactivity, Material Variety, Compact Size, Low System Cost

Background

Being a small startup 3D printing service bureau, Netsheipas AM focuses on small series, prototype production, and fast deliveries to various, primarily industrial, customers.

Typically, these are complex designs with delicate  components requiring extra attention while preparing  for production, as well as top-class precision and quality. Assembly fit, colouring, or other types of coating are  the perfect add-ons to the offering. With a few years  
of experience in the 3D industry, Netsheipas AM also provides engineering review and design adaptation services and SLS 3D printing.

Problem

Speed of reaction, freedom of design, and cost-efficient production were the most common challenges to fulfil customer needs. Wide choice and frequent material changes have also been a pinnacle to satisfy customer demands. Partnerships with large, industrial powder bed printing partners did not allow them to achieve desired flexibility and efficiency. Therefore, they searched for compact, flexible, and efficient SLS solutions in the market. Netsheipas AM decided to concentrate on SLS technology since it would be the best fit for complex, engineered grade performance components. It was  challenging to find  a suitable SLS solution within  
the desired investment range to ensure sustainable  business operations.

Solution

Equipment used: Sinterit Lisa PRO 3D Printer
Material used: PA12, TPU, PP

After analysing and comparing available SLS systems on the market it was an easy choice to go with the Sinterit Lisa PRO SLS printer.  Primary factors for this choice were an extensive material variety,  compact system architecture, and reasonable investment costs.

It also put the system into a reasonably small production area, making the compactness of Lisa architecture furthermore attractive. A small to midsize build chamber 
is desired to have a system to secure efficient packing of print jobs, enabling commercially beneficial production of quick, short runs. They have decided to purchase and install two Sinterit Lisa PRO units for simultaneous production of orders containing different materials. The print schedule would not require waiting for one to print a job to complete while launching a remaining set of parts requiring other material.  
For securing larger part suits into the build chamber, Lisa PRO versions have been selected. It took them a while to get used to new systems after they started in February 2021.
They learned that it takes a bare minimum of additional efforts to swap to other materials.

After a few test prints, Netsheipas AM has started  producing regular customer orders without fear of missing quality expectations, component accuracy,  or tight production schedule requirements. Since the bed-in period, it has been almost a full-time continuous operation, even when a different material is required.